Vietnam, wait, no, Sydney! (CX/SQ F)
May 17, 2016, 8:54 am
#16
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Germany
Programs: Some
Posts: 11,520
I've spent a fair amount of time (months+) in Thailand, India and Malaysia so I'm no stranger to traveling in the developing world, I just didn't click with Vietnam. The food wasn't as good as I had hoped and yes, it was insanely crowded. I follow one of the writers for Travelfish on Twitter and she was posting photos from Hoi An while I was in Hanoi showing just how jam-packed it was. Also didn't help that I was attacked my mosquitos every time I walked outside no matter how much bug spray I wore.
I'm totally willing to concede that I may have jumped the gun in abandoning my original itinerary, but at the end of the day I simply wasn't enjoying my vacation so I don't regret making the change.
Oh, and I arrived at the start of a heat wave that saw temperatures soar to 110F.
I might give Vietnam another try in the future. I have a feeling I may have enjoyed it more if I'd gotten off the tourist track and gone at a better time of year (totally poor planning on my fault).
As for popcorn, won't be necessary.
I'm totally willing to concede that I may have jumped the gun in abandoning my original itinerary, but at the end of the day I simply wasn't enjoying my vacation so I don't regret making the change.
Oh, and I arrived at the start of a heat wave that saw temperatures soar to 110F.
I might give Vietnam another try in the future. I have a feeling I may have enjoyed it more if I'd gotten off the tourist track and gone at a better time of year (totally poor planning on my fault).
As for popcorn, won't be necessary.
)
May 17, 2016, 9:14 am
#17
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: OOL/DOH
Programs: QF LTS WP, Avis Pres Club, HH Diam.
Posts: 3,192
Ha Noi is a dull, dirty, crowded place with generally bad food. Yes there are much more exciting and colourful places in Viet Nam - Ha Noi is not one of them.
I lived there for two years...
I lived there for two years...
May 17, 2016, 10:43 am
#18
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS
Posts: 15,027
May 17, 2016, 7:51 pm
#19
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC E75K, Amex Plat, NEXUS, Aman-user (not really a -junkie)
Posts: 1,721
Vietnam is an amazing country ! Being of vietnamese background but never having visited, I was amazed the first time I went. The second time I went to Saigon for the food... obviously, being able to speak the language goes a long way though !
You need to give it another chance and don't visit when it's hotter than....
You need to give it another chance and don't visit when it's hotter than....
May 17, 2016, 8:24 pm
#20
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: IAH
Programs: DL DM, Hyatt Ist-iest, Stariott Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 12,790
And back on topic, great start to the tr! I'll be on CX F very shortly, but on the complete opposite schedule leaving LAX on the ~9:30-10:00 am flight.
May 18, 2016, 7:49 am
#24
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Boulder
Programs: AA Plat, CX Silver
Posts: 2,361
Part 2: Hanoi
My four days in Hanoi weren't all bad.
The highlight was an early morning photo tour with Vietnam in Focus, starting at 5am at Long Bien Market and walking our way down the tracks back into the Old Quarter.
We spent a fair amount of time just above the market at a spot right in front of Long Bien Station where an endless stream of motorbikes (and some bicycles) come off the bridge making a sharp turn.
We crossed through the station and walked under the tracks for a time, capturing photos of Hanoi waking up.
As well as a man and his rooster. I get the sense he's used to my tour guide coming through this way.
We also stumbled upon a woman cooking up Fido for breakfast:
We wrapped up with some tea and pho at the cafe that doubles as their office.
Highly recommended if you're in Hanoi!
Other than that, I spent my time in Hanoi wandering around. I was staying at the Art Boutique Hotel, recommended by several FTers, and I'll second that with the caveat that they had a bit of a mosquito problem. My first evening I was attacked by some tiger mosquitos that had found their way into my room. The next day they brought someone with pesticide, so they're at least receptive.
The location is great (though bring earplugs). Plenty to see just poking around the alleyways and corridors surrounding the hotel, plus right next door is a famous Bun Bo Nam Bo restaurant:
Vermicelli with grilled beef and fish sauce.
Also not too far away was a decent bun cha place, Dac Kim:
Bun cha refers to the grilled pork and noodles, served here with nem which are the fried spring rolls.
I also enjoyed plenty of coffees along the way. One pleasant cafe was Cafe Pho Co right along the northern shore of Hoan Kiem Lake with rooftop views over the lake, though it's a bit hard to find. Not a bad place for an egg coffee though.
The cafe is wedged in the middle of this jamble of buildings and steep staircases.
Hoan Kiem Lake
A day was also spent wandering around the French Quarter. I kept crossing paths with a wedding party that was darting around taking wedding photos:
After an hour or two I just couldn't take the heat anymore so I ducked into the Sofitel Metropole and enjoyed a few G&T's in their courtyard cafe.
Next: Singapore
The highlight was an early morning photo tour with Vietnam in Focus, starting at 5am at Long Bien Market and walking our way down the tracks back into the Old Quarter.
We spent a fair amount of time just above the market at a spot right in front of Long Bien Station where an endless stream of motorbikes (and some bicycles) come off the bridge making a sharp turn.
We crossed through the station and walked under the tracks for a time, capturing photos of Hanoi waking up.
As well as a man and his rooster. I get the sense he's used to my tour guide coming through this way.
We also stumbled upon a woman cooking up Fido for breakfast:
We wrapped up with some tea and pho at the cafe that doubles as their office.
Highly recommended if you're in Hanoi!
Other than that, I spent my time in Hanoi wandering around. I was staying at the Art Boutique Hotel, recommended by several FTers, and I'll second that with the caveat that they had a bit of a mosquito problem. My first evening I was attacked by some tiger mosquitos that had found their way into my room. The next day they brought someone with pesticide, so they're at least receptive.
The location is great (though bring earplugs). Plenty to see just poking around the alleyways and corridors surrounding the hotel, plus right next door is a famous Bun Bo Nam Bo restaurant:
Vermicelli with grilled beef and fish sauce.
Also not too far away was a decent bun cha place, Dac Kim:
Bun cha refers to the grilled pork and noodles, served here with nem which are the fried spring rolls.
I also enjoyed plenty of coffees along the way. One pleasant cafe was Cafe Pho Co right along the northern shore of Hoan Kiem Lake with rooftop views over the lake, though it's a bit hard to find. Not a bad place for an egg coffee though.
The cafe is wedged in the middle of this jamble of buildings and steep staircases.
Hoan Kiem Lake
A day was also spent wandering around the French Quarter. I kept crossing paths with a wedding party that was darting around taking wedding photos:
After an hour or two I just couldn't take the heat anymore so I ducked into the Sofitel Metropole and enjoyed a few G&T's in their courtyard cafe.
Next: Singapore
Last edited by txflyer77; May 18, 2016 at 8:06 am